Money alone can’t help nations win medals. It is definitely one of the important ingredients but in addition one needs a motivator to achieve the desired results. The US could have easily scooped all the gold medals that are at stake in Olympics had money been the sole yardstick of achieving success.

The late Majeed Khan, the founding secretary of Islamia Club, was a true motivator for table tennis and provided a platform for regular healthy competitions to youth so that they could make their mark at least in Asia which they did. He was a fanatic and took pains for half a century to see the game flourish in the country in general and in Karachi in particular.

Islamia Club, a brainchild of Majeed Khan, has a chequered history. It has come a long way from a 30x60 feet table tennis hall with capacity for two tables to a multi-purpose indoor gymnasium, the first in a private-sector providing access to youth.

After getting a go-ahead from his few friends, Majeed Khan embarked on his mission and decided to name the club after his alma mater (the Islamia High School, Hyderabad Deccan) from where he had migrated in 1948. Initially, it was founded in a small rented room in the city’s Hyderabad Colony in 1951. He sacrificed resumption of education for his passion and remained committed to it until his death on Oct 17, 2001.

Those who have closely followed Majeed Khan would agree that he knew the trick of the trade and used to have easy access to the then top bureaucrats. After a period of initial struggle, he convinced eminent people like Abbas Khaleeli, Akhter Hussain, I.A. Khan, Habib I. Rahimtoola, Mohammad Shoaib, S.M. Yousuf and Amirali H. Fancy among others to become founding members of Islamia Club. They acceded to his request and then there was no looking back.

A land in Soldier Bazaar, measuring two acres was acquired in 1956 from the Ministry of Defence, courtesy former secretary Defence, Akhter Hussain, for the club, which was formally inaugurated by the then Commerce Minister, Z.A. Bhutto, on Jan 10, 1959.

It was this institution that set a precedent by inviting world champions and other greats of the game on Islamia Club’s invitation for table tennis tournaments that took place at the KMC Club in the fifties. The fraternity of the game was delighted to see world champions from Hungary in Karachi among them and also the greats of countries such as England, India, Iran, Egypt, Czechoslovakia, Singapore and the United States. Information reveals that the club had organised 13 international competitions.

Islamia Club also had the honour of inviting world champions from Japan to Karachi, who were followed by the Chinese stars after they took the world crown from Japan. The matches were organised at the KMC Club.

A number of dignitaries also had the honour of visiting the institution. Islamia Club was fortunate that Ms Fatima Jinnah graced its first function in Aug 1951. Three prime ministers, namely, Mohammad Ali Bogra, I.I. Chundrigar and Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy presided over the subsequent functions of the club.

Apart from conducting local competitions and coaching camps on a regular basis, Islamia Club served as a reservoir and provided numerous men, women and junior players to Pakistan teams for decades.

Not satisfied with his work and knowing that age was catching up fast, a devoted Majeed Khan embarked to set new milestones by constructing a multi-purpose indoor gymnasium and his dream finally came true when the then Federal Sports Minister, S.K. Tressler, inaugurated it on Jan 27, 2001. He ran from pillar to post to raise funds for completing the project. The then Defence Minister Salim Abbas Jilani played a vital role in accomplishing the task.

Majeed Khan, who also served as secretary of KTTA and joint secretary of PTTF, was blessed with 11 children — seven sons and four daughters — all of whom played table tennis. Three of them Arif Khan, Mehboob Khan and Sohail Khan went on to represent the country.

Though Majeed Khan is no longer among us, his son Arif is carrying the legacy of his illustrious father.

— Anwar Zuberi